My Mum could barely cook water. Baking, for her, was another country altogether, a dangerous land filled with peaks of burnt crusts and valleys of undercooked batter as treacherous as quicksand. When it came to scones, Jesse wisely went to the bakery aisle of the local Co-op. So I grew up with pre-wrapped, pre-cooked scones best described as baked widgets. These scones had hard brown crusts, the insides of which possessed the look and texture of hard-packed snow, with just as much flavor.
The scone Frances bakes is another matter entirely. This is a light, ethereal creation with an achingly soft yet firm top, beneath which is a light buttery interior where plump raisins hold sway. With each bite this tiny concoction tumbles apart with languid ease into a soft, sweet, slightly chewy morsel and the world is a decidedly better place for it. Proof in the pudding? Try baking Frances’ scones yourself. Just add clotted cream and strawberry jam (well, butter or whipped cream in a pinch). And if, at that point, your taste buds fail to fandango and saliva glands adamantly refuse to gush, you are beyond hope and you have my sympathies.
Here’s the recipe:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbsps baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
6 Tbsps (3/4 sticks) cold unsalted butter
1/2-3/4 cup raisins
1 cup milk
Stir dry ingredients together in a bowl. Cut butter into mixture with pastry cutter or 2 knives until butter is reduced to pea-sized crumbs. Add raisins, pour in milk and stir quickly to make a firm dough. Don't overmix--no need to get rid of every flour speck and the butter bits make scones flakier.
Roll out dough on floured surface or between plastic wrap sheets until 3/4"-1" thick; cut into 2" rounds with cookie cutters and place and parchment-lined cookie sheet. Brush lightly with milk and bake in preheated 400 F (200 C) oven for 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool slightly but serve warm! Makes about 16. (Note: We made 50 teeny-tiny ones to take to international night at Kate's school and they went faster than the chocolate chip cookies!)
Enjoy and let us know what you think!
Admittedly, as many of you know, we are a "mixed" family; but nevertheless Christmas is our favorite time of the year--and my favorite holiday! Sadly we have not put up many lights this year as we have been too busy driving little miss madam to her many activities, but Prodigal Wife did make me a very happy chap when she made one of my favorite Christmas treats: a real fruitcake! Now, no jokes, every American we know loves it and you can see the recipe Friday on Anglotopia.net (will post link after it publishes).
